The Durrell School of Corfu will hold a seminar on the topic 'Empire andAftermath: Core and Periphery' at its Library and Study Centre in Corfu,4-10 June 2006.

IntroductionThe 400-year rule of the Ionian islands by the 'Serenissima' Republic ofVenice and the 50-year administration of the 'Septinsular Republic' of thoseislands by Britain provide us with examples of strategic control ofMediterranean communications by interests vested in the diplomatic andcommercial manipulation of trade routes and nodes of power.

Although Venice created an aristocracy in the Ionian islands (remnants ofwhich are still evident), it cannot be said to have 'colonised' the islands,nor can the many British people living in Corfu today claim any connectionwith the previous British presence. Nevertheless, The British empire, as themost extensive territorial and economic enterprise in the world, had manycontinuing links with the Ionian islands. One of its greatest architects,W.E. Gladstone, was 'Lord High Commissioner Extraordinary' in Corfu 1858-59.General Charles Napier, later famed for his one-word telegram to Londonsignalling that he had captured the city of Sind ('Peccavi'), wasCommissioner in Cephallonia 1822-30.

It is a debatable proposition that an imperial, rather than a colonial,presence on the part of Venice and Britain had a benign effect on theseislands, and this may contrast with the experience of societies elsewherewhich continue to live in the aftermath of colonisation: colonisation isessentially invasive and rapine, encouraging movements towards resistanceand independence, whereas imperial administration per se may not lead tosuch movements.

The Durrell School of Corfu's seminar will therefore concentrate onpost-imperial, rather than post-colonial, issues, although it isacknowledged, expected and hoped that many contested areas will be addressedby participants.

FocusThe purpose of the seminar is to examine:

• the relations between the centre of empire and the subjects of its rule atits periphery, both during the imperial period and afterwithdrawal/independence;• discourse (or the lack of it) between core and periphery, particularlythrough the lenses of literature;• the effects of the aftermath of empire in former imperial subjects.

The chief focus of the seminar will be on the empires which controlled theIonian islands from 1386 to 1864: Venice (1386-1797) France (Republic, 1979-99; Empire, 1807-14) Britain (1814-64),in addition to the brief involvement of Russia and Turkey (1799-1807). Theoccupation of mainland Greece by the Ottoman empire will provide anotherfocus.Other imperial powers within the region ( e.g. Austro-Hungary) may also beconsidered.Due to the fact that the Durrell family were born in India, and thatLawrence Durrell wrote extensively of India, an additional focus will beprovided by the experience of India under, and after, British rule.

The seminar will be moderated by Neil Lazarus (Warwick University, UK),Gautam Kundu (Georgia Southern University, USA) and Reed Way Dasenbrock (NewMexico State University, USA). The component on India will enjoy thedistinguished participation of Ashis Nandy (Centre for the Study ofDeveloping Societies, Delhi, India).

Priority will be given to proposals relating to the imperial/post-imperialexperience of Greece and in particular of the Ionian islands.

The DSC invites submission of proposals for short papers (no more than 30minutes) based on original research. The seminar will be of particularinterest to doctoral candidates and those with post-doctoral experience.

TOPICS (the following topics are not exclusive)

• interaction between imperial and indigenous cultures• the symbiosis of 'coloniser' and 'colonised'• the imperial subject as 'other' or 'different': can the 'other' everbecome 'the same'?• critiques of 'orientalism'• the transition of societies under imperial rule• Eurocentrism and the rhetoric of map-making• the meaning of 'subaltern'• real and imaginary perceptions of landscape from the imperial andindigenous perspectives• 'allochronism': linear time and circular or periodic time• suppression of, or revolt or collaboration by, imperial subjects• nationalist and independence/resistance movements: emphasis may be placedon cultural nationalism and questions of emergent identity• post-imperial or post-colonial literatures, especially 'varieties ofenglish', including Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, theCaribbean: is there such a genre as 'Commonwealth literature'?• the literature(s) of Latin America• post-imperial literature(s) re-writing the 'Western canon': 'the empirewrites back'• the role of narrative in post-imperial society: memory and re-membering• departure and arrival in the moment of freedom/independence• revisionism in post-imperial historiography

Proposals relating to India are encouraged to examine, in particular:

• the Macaulay memorandum on Indian education (1835) and its aftermath• the relationship of English writers with India (especially those born inIndia, including Rudyard Kipling and Lawrence Durrell)• the development of Indian writing in English

Proposals relating to the Ionian islands are encouraged to examine:

• the launching of the 4th Crusade from Corfu (1203)• the architectural contribution to the islands of the Venetians, French andBritish• the pervasiveness of Italian culture: language, cuisine, music andliterature• the effects of British administration• enosis with Greece in 1864• is The Tempest set in Corfu?

The format of the seminar will facilitate detailed discussion of each paperwith members of the School's faculty, and will therefore permit no more than6 papers each day. Full texts of accepted presentations must be received atthe DSC by 1 May 2006 in electronic format in order to facilitatecirculation to all participants.

A selection of papers and the discussion they inspire will be published bythe DSC as part of its Proceedings.

In absentia presentations are not acceptable.

Proposals (2 pages maximum), together with the proposer's CV, should bereceived at the DSC by e-mail before 15 February 2006 (durrells_at_otenet.gr).

The registration fee for the seminar will be 300 euros for participants (toinclude costs of field classes) and 350 euros for those who wish to attendand take part in the discussions, but who do not wish to present papers.

The Durrell School of Corfu will not be responsible for any costs associatedwith travel or accommodation. Intending participants should consult the DSCwebsite (www.durrell-school-corfu.org) for details of accommodationavailable in Corfu.

A limited number of scholarships is available: in the first instance,contact the Administrative Director at: durrells_at_otenet.gr.